FM switchoff ???
Hi,
Does anyone know if FM radio is planning to be switched off in line with analogue TV (in UK)?
I say this because I love BBC Radio 3 FM and wonder if it's days are numbered
ta
jules.
Despite promises to the contrary over the last three years or so, there has still been no announcement of a definite date for turning off the analogue radio signal.
With analogue TV being switched off in the first areas of the country from 2008, we think it's fair to say FM radio will be a long way behind.
Edit - I see Mr. Everard has beaten me to it somewhat!
Great minds, Mr Cox...
Call me a Luddite, but given the variable quality of DAB, I'm praying they'll keep FM going for as long as possible!
HEAR HEAR !!
I quite agree maybe all good music fans should start lobbying their MPs to drop the idea of digital switchover, my friend has just moved into a new build flat in Devon and his Freeview box only comes up with "insufficient signal strength" -DAB radio?- he can forget about it.
The thing is the Government will steamroller switchover through unless enough noise is made by the people who disagree with it, maybe the various Hi-Fi magazine in this country should band together and start a petition.
There's a petition asking top push back Digital TV switchover here (http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/digitalswitch/) if anyone wants to sign it
What would happen to the pirate radio stations when we go digital? and what about all those car stereos out there?
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Another good reason for holding fire on the switchoff. Well, the car stereos, not the pirates...
It doesn't effect 5 live and talk sport listener like me then.....lowest bit rate out there but still better than am airwave sound.
Does Porky Parry sound less irritating on DAB???
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All the compression in the world couldn't achieve that...
Maybe some ear plugs???
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I still enjoy the variety offered by Long Wave radio. If I am travelling around I dont lose stations in the same way as FM stations disappear.
Although I have never heard the output from a stand alone DAB tuner, I have heard other sources such as in-car and my Pure Evoke 1. In my opinion DAB stations sound compressed and dull. Obviously there is a massive improvement on AM, but for crystal clear radio you still can't beat FM, (especially BBC national radio - why do BBC FM broadcasts sound better than local radio FM broadcasts?).
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Certainly not as early as analogue TV, which is due to be gone by the end of 2012. The earliest date suggested seems to be 2015, with some broadcasters pushing for that date, but the chances are it will be much later, due to the sheer scale of ensuring the whole population can receive digital radio before analogue goes.
After all, converting the nation's car radios, portables and so on isn't quite as easy as plugging set-top Freeview boxes into TV sets...
Consulting Editor, What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision/whathifi.com Audio Editor, Gramophone